Newport Beach City Hall Celebration
The 1st Battalion, 1st Marines provided the color guard
Music was provided by two dozen members of the 3d Marine Aircraft Wing Band.
Mayor Keith Curry was the master of ceremonies, setting just the right tone for the day.
Councilman Ed Selich provided an overview of the history of the City Hall creation.
There's plenty of onsite parking - 450 parking spaces in a multi-story parking structure adjacent to the buildings. The Main Library is now a contiguous part of the Civic Center and shares the parking facilities.
Perhaps the best example is the office of City Manager, Dave Kiff. Not only is it in the perfect location with a lovely blue water view, but has a little deck nearby if he wants to soak up some sun during the day. Even though there are several of those decks around the perimeter of the building, I suspect Kiff is going to get some flack.
This really is quite the magnificent facility. Once the landscaping grows a little it will be a spectacular place to just go and meander. Every Newport Beach resident should be proud of this facility - even though it may cost as much as $230 million once the bonds are paid off.
And, quite honestly, I feel just a little bit of pride of ownership for this place. Many years ago, when Newport Beach seemed determined to demolish the old site on the Balboa Peninsula and rebuild a new facility there, I wrote a little commentary in the Daily Pilot that asked why they would intentionally build at a site you almost cannot reach during the summer months when they had this fantastic, 12 acre site in the geographical dead center of the city, close to public transportation and adjacent to their largest retail center - Fashion Island. I mean, that venue is called "Newport Center", after all. I suggested that space adjacent to the Main Library could be carved out of that 12 acres for a new City Hall and still have plenty of room for the open space for which it was intended. Apparently somebody was listening.
So, to my good friends in Newport Beach, congratulations on your magnificent new Civic Center and Park. Events are already being scheduled for the meeting rooms and the lawn area. It should make you all very proud. You're welcome...
Labels: Dave Kiff, Ed Selich, Keith Curry, Newport Beach City Hall